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Adding Power Door Lock To My '81

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Old Apr 11, 2014 | 08:02 AM
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Default Adding Power Door Lock To My '81

I am thinking of adding power door locks to my '81 and would like to know if I have all the parts needed to do this. If anyone has a picture, diagram, drawing or could point me towards the page(s) in the assembly manual....would sure appreciate it, as I have not been able to find everything.

I know I would need the lock actuators, the rods between the actuator and the lever assembly.
The door lock switches that go in the door panels.
The wiring harness for each door.
And I have seen that there is a short adapter harness between the door harness and where it connects to the dash harness. Is this due to a connector difference?
Also I have been told that there is a alarm switch for the door being unlocked without using the door key to trigger the factory alarm; need to see a picture of this.

Is there anything else I would need?
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Old Apr 11, 2014 | 08:17 AM
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I'm planning on pulling the drivers side door panel either tonight or tomorrow, to add in ( some *** monkey took it out) the manual door lock rod. I can look in our door and let you know. Our car is a 79. Shouldn't be too far off. We have power door locks.
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Old Apr 11, 2014 | 08:31 PM
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That would be great if you could take a few pictures of the lock actuator...although not going to be a lot of room and lighting is also going to be a problem....but would sure appreciate it.


From looking in the service manual at the power door lock and theft deterrent system schematics, there are notes that say the theft deterrent switches and that circuit 296 is cut at the theft deterrent control module for manual door locks only.

Makes me wonder how then the alarm gets triggered if someone unlocks the door (with the alarm armed) by pulling the lock button in the arm rest without having the switch on the lever arm like my '81 has.

Does any one know how?

Last edited by LannyL81; Apr 12, 2014 at 11:01 AM.
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by LannyL81
...If anyone ...could point me towards the page(s) in the assembly manual....would sure appreciate it, as I have not been able to find everything...
F01-F12 Sheet 16 for the actuators. 12H Sheet 17 and 19 for the switches and wiring.

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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 09:57 AM
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I'm heading out to the car now, I'll take whatever pics I can
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 10:55 AM
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This is before I took the panel off, shows the power door lock wires.
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 11:04 AM
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Thanks for the pictures....so that is where the harness holder pushes into the door....I was wondering what hole.

Upon more research I have learned that there is a difference in wiring between manual and power locks and I need to find C550 and C551, to cut a wire. Will also need to add a contact to the theft deterrent module connector....that's not going to be an easy one....

So the research continues.

Many thanks to all.

Last edited by LannyL81; Apr 12, 2014 at 11:26 AM.
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 11:25 AM
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Think this must've gone to the alarm

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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 11:28 AM
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 05:31 PM
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lanny

I am cutting up some 82 doors if you need the locking stuff let me know
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 10:55 PM
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My1991: sent you a pm listing the parts I need.

I just need to find connectors c550 &c551 to remove a short and I need to add a connection to the theft deterrent module that was cut at the factory.
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 11:04 PM
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There is a wire harness in the dash that connects the 2 door harnesses together and supplies power to the lock system. I replaced all mine in the build, might still have the old dash harness on the bench, I'll look tomorrow.
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Old Apr 12, 2014 | 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by LannyL81
My1991: sent you a pm listing the parts I need.

I just need to find connectors c550 &c551 to remove a short and I need to add a connection to the theft deterrent module that was cut at the factory.
I have no idea what 550 and 551 is. This car had theft stuff on it I still have the harness from the car. But you will have to give me pictures of what you are looking for.
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Old Apr 13, 2014 | 08:13 AM
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1991 if you Or anyone has the lower door lock rod assembly with the rod that connects to the actuator, upon my tear down yesterday to add in the manual door lock rod, I found bubba stripped out the lower door lock rod assembly. That's for the drivers door. I'm trying to track hose parts down, found some passenger side stuff on eBay but didn't see any drivers side.
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Old Apr 13, 2014 | 09:40 AM
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My car has the wire harness that connects the left and right door locks and I think I have found the power connection...I need to look again though.

I will be looking for the two connectors C550 and C551 today; these have to do with the theft deterrent system, not the power door locks. According to the service manual there is a connection that I will have to remove and one that I will need to add in order to have the theft deterrent system work with the power locks....different than with manual locks.

Thanks everyone for the pictures and responses.
Tooonz: bubba has sure be in the doors; window motor connector gone, that bundle of wine/connectors do go to the door lock cylinder, etc.

Last edited by LannyL81; Apr 13, 2014 at 09:44 AM.
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Old Apr 13, 2014 | 10:20 AM
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Contempory Corvette will have those connectors. A bone yard for Corvette parts
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Old Apr 13, 2014 | 12:09 PM
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SIXFOOTER: If you find the old harness, I need the short two wire harness that was at the base of the windshield, passenger side; about 6" long, three terminal connectors on both ends, only two used, tan and gray wire.

Let me know if you would as I really do not want to cut and splice the harness if I can avoid it.


I was looking for connectors C550 and C551 within my car....which I found. I know about Contemporary Corvette....have purchased parts from them in the past. Thanks.
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Old Apr 13, 2014 | 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Tooonz
1991 if you Or anyone has the lower door lock rod assembly with the rod that connects to the actuator, upon my tear down yesterday to add in the manual door lock rod, I found bubba stripped out the lower door lock rod assembly. That's for the drivers door. I'm trying to track hose parts down, found some passenger side stuff on eBay but didn't see any drivers side.
the doors are complete minus the door glass, the were full power doors.
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Old Apr 14, 2014 | 10:35 PM
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UPDATE: found connectors C550 &C551, actually quite easily. This is a short harness that must be changed in order for the factory theft deterrent system to work when converting from manual to power door locks.

Now I just need the parts from My1991's '82 and I will do the conversion, again pretty easily done.

So if anyone else wants to do this to their 78 to 82 just ask me how.

Thanks to everyone that replied.

Later.
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Old Apr 19, 2014 | 04:32 PM
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hey did you get the parts?
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